Summer has gone, the kids are back to school, and, if your family is like mine, fall allergies may be rearing their ugly heads.
As a mom with two seasonal allergy sufferers, we spent many school years dealing with stuffy noses, coughing, itchy and watery eyes, headaches, and asthma symptoms during allergy season. Fall wasn't the end of it, either. Depending on what was blooming and each child's individual triggers, allergy problems could continue well into spring.
If your child struggles with seasonal allergies at school, a few simple changes at home and in your family's daily routine may help reduce exposure to pollen, dust mites, mold, and other common allergens.
I originally received some back-to-school allergy tips as a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew. Over the years, we also learned quite a bit through trial and error while managing our daughters' seasonal allergy symptoms.
Here are some of the back-to-school allergy tips that worked well for our family, along with practical ways parents can reduce common allergy triggers during the school year.
1. Support Your Child's Overall Health
A nutritious, varied diet, enough sleep, regular physical activity, and routine pediatric care are all important parts of keeping kids healthy.
While we used children's multivitamins as part of our daughters' morning routine, parents should know that most healthy children who eat a balanced diet don't need a daily multivitamin simply to "boost" their immune systems. If you're wondering whether your child needs a vitamin or supplement, talk with your pediatrician about their individual nutritional needs.
2. Have an Allergy Medication Plan
If your child uses allergy medicine, make sure you know what medication they should take, when they should take it, and what the school needs to have on file.
Children's Claritin contains loratadine, an antihistamine used to temporarily relieve symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, and itching of the nose or throat. Children's Claritin products are available in formulations for different ages, so always read and follow the product label and talk with your child's pediatrician or pharmacist if you have questions.
This is especially important when a child has asthma or uses other medications. Rather than adding an over-the-counter allergy medicine to an existing treatment plan on your own, discuss your child's symptoms and medications with their healthcare provider.
Also check your school's medication policy. If your child needs medicine, an inhaler, or another treatment during the school day, make sure current medications and any required paperwork are in place with the school nurse or clinic.
3. Control Moisture to Help Prevent Indoor Mold
Mold can be an allergy and asthma trigger, but sunlight isn't the primary way to control indoor mold. Moisture control is key.
Watch for damp areas, condensation, leaks, and excess indoor humidity. Bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, and other areas where moisture collects deserve extra attention.
If you find mold, address both the mold and the source of the moisture rather than relying on sunlight or simply airing out the room.
4. Pay Attention to Pillows, Bedding, and Stuffed Animals
Bedrooms can harbor indoor allergens, including dust mites.
If dust mites are one of your child's triggers, regularly washing bedding and using allergen-resistant mattress and pillow covers may help reduce exposure. Stuffed animals can collect dust, too, so washable favorites are easier to keep clean.
Our goal wasn't to make our kids give up every stuffed animal they loved. Instead, we tried to keep sleeping spaces clean and reduce unnecessary dust collectors around their beds.
5. Don't Let Damp Laundry Sit
Back-to-school season seems to create mountains of laundry!
Try to remove wet clothes from the washing machine promptly and dry them completely. Mold needs moisture to grow, so keeping laundry areas and damp fabrics dry is a practical part of controlling mold around the home.
It's also worth checking around the washer for leaks, persistent dampness, or musty odors.
6. Check Pollen Levels Before Outdoor Activities
If pollen triggers your child's allergies or asthma, check the local pollen forecast before planning long periods outdoors.
We learned that our daughters didn't necessarily react to the same seasonal allergens. We often allowed our oldest to play outdoor sports in the spring and our youngest to play in the fall because their worst allergy seasons were different.
We adjusted family outings the same way. When pollen was particularly high, we sometimes chose a shorter outing, changed locations, or spent more time indoors.
That doesn't mean children with seasonal allergies need to avoid outdoor play altogether. The goal is to understand your child's specific allergy triggers and reduce exposure when those triggers are especially high.
7. Shower and Change Clothes After High-Pollen Activities
One of our simplest seasonal allergy strategies was also one of the easiest: wash the outdoors off before bed.
Showering or bathing after spending significant time outdoors can remove pollen from your child's skin and hair. Changing out of pollen-covered clothing can help keep those allergens from spreading around the house and onto bedding.
During our daughters' peak allergy seasons, an extra shower after outdoor sports or activities sometimes became part of the routine.
8. Keep Kids Hydrated
Sending your child to school with a water bottle is a good way to encourage regular hydration throughout the day, especially if their school permits water bottles in the classroom.
Water won't "flush allergens or toxins" out of the body, however, and hydration isn't a treatment for seasonal allergies. It simply supports normal body function and can help kids stay comfortable throughout a busy school day.
Check your school's classroom water-bottle policy before sending one along.
9. Plan Outdoor Activities Around Your Child's Triggers
You've probably heard the advice to avoid outdoor activities early in the morning because pollen is always highest then. In reality, pollen levels can vary by plant, weather conditions, season, and location, so a blanket "morning is always worst" rule isn't especially useful.
Instead, check your local pollen forecast and pay attention to the conditions that seem to affect your child most.
My daughter's school scheduled weekly afternoon nature walks, and that timing often worked well for her during her peak allergy periods. Your child's experience may be different, which is why watching local conditions and tracking symptoms can be so helpful.
10. Talk to Your Child's Teacher and School Nurse
This was one of my personal must-do-every-year back-to-school allergy tips.
My youngest daughter experienced mild fall and severe spring seasonal allergy flare-ups, complete with red, itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, and an asthmatic cough. She also experienced frequent headaches and migraines that sometimes seemed to be triggered by strong scents, such as air fresheners and cleaning products.
At the beginning of each school year, we discussed her individual concerns with her teachers. They were often willing to swap heavily scented products for less-fragranced alternatives or let her table use unscented wipes for cleanup.
We also gave teachers a heads-up when seasonal allergies were likely to cause itchy, red eyes or coughing and made sure her current medications and health information were available through the school clinic.
If allergies can trigger your child's asthma, work with your child's healthcare provider and school to make sure everyone understands the child's asthma or allergy action plan and knows what to do if symptoms become serious.
What Are Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms in Children?
Seasonal allergies can look a lot like a cold, especially during the school year. Common allergy symptoms may include:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy nose or throat
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes
- Coughing
- Symptoms that appear or worsen around particular seasonal triggers
For children who also have asthma, allergens such as pollen and mold can contribute to asthma flare-ups.
If your child has wheezing, difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, or symptoms that interfere with sleep, school, sports, or everyday activities, talk with their healthcare provider. Breathing difficulty can require prompt medical attention.
How Can You Reduce Pollen Exposure After School?
If your child has been playing outside on a high-pollen day, a simple after-school allergy routine can help reduce the amount of pollen that comes indoors.
Have your child change out of outdoor clothing, wash their hands and face, and shower or wash their hair after significant outdoor exposure when appropriate. During pollen season, keeping windows closed can also help prevent outdoor pollen from entering the house.
Most importantly, learn which allergens actually trigger your child. Seasonal allergy management becomes much easier when you're responding to your child's individual patterns rather than trying to avoid every possible allergen.
A Few Last Allergy Season Notes
My husband and I don't have seasonal allergies, so learning how to help two allergy-prone kiddos took some trial and error. One of the biggest things we learned was that there isn't a single allergy-season routine that works for every child.
Pay attention to your child's triggers, check pollen conditions, reduce indoor allergens where practical, communicate with the school, and work with your child's pediatrician or allergy specialist when symptoms aren't well controlled.
These back-to-school allergy tips worked well for our family, and I hope they help make your family's fall and spring allergy seasons a little more manageable, too.
Note: This article shares our family's personal experience and is provided for general informational purposes. It isn't a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk with your child's healthcare provider about allergy or asthma symptoms and before starting or changing medications.
Disclosure: As a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I received product samples and promotional items to share and use as I saw fit. No monetary compensation took place, and the opinions expressed here reflect my actual experience.
0 Comments